IAAF defends Olympic starting blocks after Bolt criticism

The sport's governing responds after Usain Bolt hit out at the newly-designed starting blocks to be used at next month's London Olympics

Usain Bolt said his feet were too big for the redesigned starting blocks (Petr Josek)

NEWLY-DESIGNED starting blocks to be used at the London Olympics will
"enhance" the performance of athletes, according to the sport's world
governing body, the IAAF, and not slow them down as claimed by Usain Bolt.

The blocks redesigned by Swiss timekeepers Omega for this season's Diamond
League and Olympics came in for criticism last week from Jamaican sprint
star Bolt, the world's fastest man.

But the IAAF insisted that changes to the starting blocks, which athletes use
in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays, as well as the 100, 110
and 400m hurdles, would not affect those using them.

"Visually the starting blocks look very different," an IAAF spokesman told
AFP. "Yes, it is true that Omega has changed a few things.

"Actually they redesigned the starting blocks, but the changes have been
introduced in order to enhance the measurement of the athlete's reaction
times and to enhance